Orlando soccer fans pack downtown, cheer on U.S. soccer team during World Cup draw

Fans stunned by Portugal's late equalizer, but many still believe Americans will find a way to advance

June 22, 2014|By Paul Tenorio, Orlando Sentinel

The Stars and Stripes swarmed downtown Orlando.

They arrived in the form of capes and headbands, pants and scarves; worn by children and 20-somethings, middle aged men and women.

Thousands of U.S. fans wearing the American flag packed onto the Wall Street Plaza for Orlando City Soccer Club's official watch party, and thousands more filled bars around the downtown area for the U.S. men's national team World Cup game against Portugal.

The U.S. needed a win to advance to the knockout stages of the World Cup. Any other result would postpone the Americans' fate until Thursday, the final day of group play.

As the hot summer day melded into a balmy evening, a line of fans waiting to get into the Wall Street party wrapped down Central Boulevard and around the block onto Magnolia Avenue. The Orlando chapter of the American Outlaws fan group crammed into Harp and Celt a few hundred yards away. A couple blocks off of Lake Eola, people gathered at The Abbey, where 12 days earlier Orlando City had unveiled its new stadium renderings.

There was a sense of camaraderie in the bars, a strength that developed along with the loss of personal space.

"Just doing what we can," said Ascar Joseph, 26, who wore a white U.S. jersey and stood at the back end of Wall Street, where every television screen glowed with images from Brazil. "We're not there physically at the game, but we can be out here in spirit rooting for our team."

Wall Street ran out of beer at Orlando City's first official watch party last week, according to Lions president Phil Rawlins, and the fire marshal closed the gates because the crowd had grown too large. On Sunday, the wave of people flooding the streets to support the U.S. had grown even larger.

The Wall Street crowd chanted "I believe that we will win," an hour before kickoff and sang the national anthem along with the U.S. fans in Manaus. As kickoff neared, a frustrated fan peeked into the Harp and Celt and lamented yet another packed scene with little room for late additions.

The game played out with plenty of drama, including what looked to be a historic U.S. comeback after an early Portugal goal. At The Abbey, fans erupted in cheers after Jermaine Jones' equalizer in the 64th minute and scattered chairs around the floor as they sprung to their feet following Clint Dempsey's strike in the 81st.

The celebration was just 30 seconds away from spilling onto streets throughout the City Beautiful when Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo curled a perfect cross onto the head of Silvestre Varela.

A nation shocked. A city of red, white and blue-clad fans stunned into silence.

"It's just heartbreaking," said Derrick Beale, 35, who stood outside of The Abbey after the final whistle sounded on the U.S.' 2-2 draw. "Thirty seconds left. Give the credit to Ronaldo, great ball in there, great header to tie it up, but that's just heartbreaking. We were right there to advance."

The Portugal equalizer came on the game's death, giving life to the European nation and delaying any U.S. celebrations for another four days — if not another four years.

The Americans will have to regroup for world power Germany. Their fans, too, must bounce back.

There will be more watch parties on Thursday. Another chance to don the Stars and Stripes and pack into parties across downtown.

"There's a lot of different scenarios," Beale said. "I think the U.S. is still going to be alright."